Hard Work can be fun

Hampton Court

This week we have been at The Handmade Festival in Hampton Court. The hard work starts with making enough items to ensure you have a good stock to sell as well as items to showcase what you do in the workshops.

Then setting up on the day before the show opens starts with the journey down from Norfolk and worrying if you have everything, I always forget something. This time it was the handouts for the workshops.

Setting up takes a while but by 6pm we can go off to John’s Sisters to hopefully relax before the opening day.

Each day we are up early to get to Hampton Court by 8am. Traffic permitting of course. Check that all is well on the stall before opening. We do have a little time to catch up with old friends before we open which is always nice.

The rest of the day is spent chatting to customers old and new. Selling items of course and encouraging customers to look at the website to see if they fancy any of the workshop we run.

At 6pm the customers go home and we restock before heading back to relax or in my case sew more items.

On the last day at 6pm we pack up the stall to head home. Yesterday we arrive home late in the evening to a comfortable take away meal and a pot of tea.

Is this the end of it? No. The day after we unpack take stock of what is left. What sold well and what did not.

Then on the computer to follow up on requests and emails. Write a blog and update the website as well as social media.

The last thing is to take what is left to The Barn shop and clear up the studio.

Do I now plan for next year? yes of course it starts all over again now.

This is just one example of how we work and have fun. Others include running workshops.

Workshops

Workshops are a great way to make new friends with like minded people. I love to see how people develop their own style of sewing and crafts. I have made some very good friends through my work.

New workshops are being added to the website all the time and this week there will be more including some half day workshops and maybe the odd evening one too. so pop along to www.eaubrinkstudio.co.uk to see whats going on.

Whilst away

Of course many of you reading this are probably thinking “what happens to the animals when Anita is away” My son lives with us and he cares for them. Also my sister is not far away and also pops in at regular intervals to make sure all is okay. the animals are better cared for than us humans.

Animal Update

The chickens are all doing well laying loads of lovely eggs. The geese have settle in well and protect the ducks now unless there is food about then its every duck and goose for him or herself. The sheep I think will be happy when the warm weather goes away even when they have been sheared they they hot. And the ducks are happy. The babies are growing well and love swimming on the pond. Though it is funny to see them suddenly try and jump out when a fish catches them unaware.

Next time

Next time will tell you all about the exhibitions I am entering just need to confirm a couple today and then I can show you some new works too.